$3.4 Billion Smart Power Grid on Obama’s Agenda

President Obama touted a proposed government support for a group of "smart energy" initiatives that would cost $3.4 billion. The various initiatives are aimed at turning the country’s badly outdated power grid into a new, modernized version that would lead to greater energy efficiency, less reliability of foreign sources of energy and greater financial savings. Obama made a pitch to switch to the use of alternate energy sources wherever possible while touring a solar energy field in Florida. Among the various initiatives that the president is backing are "smart" electric meters, automation of utility substations, and the installation of many new grid sensors and transformers.

Said Obama during the trip, "There’s something big happening in America in terms of creating a clean-energy economy." In addition to the $3.4 billion from the government, the initiatives to update the U.S. power grid will receive $4.7 billion in private investments and should offer consumers the ability to have more control over their electricity use and costs.

Said Carol Browner, an assistant to Obama for energy and climate change, "We have a very antiquated electricity grid system in our country." The total planned investment of over $8 billion should do something to change that. And, despite the message of the day, it is worth noting that some environmental "no no’s" were clearly visible. The motorcade in which Obama arrived at the solar energy plant consisted of gas-guzzling SUVs, while many vehicles in the group left their engines running (and the pollutants flowing) in order to keep the air conditioning on for those riding in the vehicles. The government’s old habits, it would appear, die hard.